Traders and residents, who have complained about the presence of Travellers' caravans in the main public car-park at Knock, say they are not convinced of a pledge by the Travellers to leave the site by Saturday.
Up to 20 Traveller caravans are situated in the car-park, after the barrier erected by Mayo County Council to keep Traveller caravans out was lifted last weekend to assist traffic flow during major roadworks .
Court injunctions have been taken out by the council on six occasions over the past two years to move Travellers on from this public car-park. The area is the largest parking facility accommodating the 1½ million pilgrims who visit Knock shrine annually.
Yet despite the council's efforts, Traveller families continue to use the facility periodically.
Yesterday a Traveller woman who did not wish to be named said: "We know it's a sin us being here. It's not right, we know, and we'll be gone by Saturday".
However, local residents and traders are not convinced that the Traveller families intend to move out for some time.
According to Mr John Kelly, a B&B owner and Fine Gael local election candidate, "Pilgrims to Knock shrine are afraid to park their cars in the middle of so many caravans, and the situation is affecting what should be a very busy pilgrimage season.
"The 20 or more caravans here today are in place for about five days now.
"This morning I saw an articulated lorry pull up here at the car-park and unload electric generators, electric power tools and other such items to the Traveller families.
"This suggests they are planning to stay here for some time," he said.
A local restaurant owner, Mr Brendan McGrath, said traders and residents were fed up with the ongoing problem.
"A number of the regular stall traders here in Knock are closed down because they cannot operate with the situation in the car-park,"he said.